Gas-generating apparatus



Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I/v VEN TOR.

W/ TNESS ES.

H.J. Ko7-5cHEVAR,

xxx. M.

H. J. KOTSCHE'VAR.

GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.1I, 1915.

1,357,99 Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. J. KOTSCHEVAR. GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' omrsu STATES PATENT oFFIc-E.

HENRY J'. KOTSCHEVAR, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GAS-GENERATING nrrnanrcs.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY J. KOTSCHIE- VAR, a'citizen of the United States residing at Minneapolis in the county of I-Iennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Grenerating Apparatus; and I do hereby decarbon gas, or in some instances, for dis tilling hydrocarbon liquid of less specific gravity than the original hydrocarbon unit. Particularly, the apparatus is designed for carrying out a process wherein the hydrocarbon liquid is cracked or broken up by passing the same through molten metal, such as molten lead, for example. EX- perience has shown that when hydrocarbon oils are cracked or broken up by the-gradual application of heat, a part of the hydrocarbon will be separated in a sticky! or pasty form much like tar and will adhere to the conduit or vessel through which it is passed, and accumulate to fill up and clog the same. Lxperiencehas further shown that where the hydrocarbon oil is kept at a comparatively low temperature, and then caused to pass through molten metal, the

carbon will separate into the form of a very light, dry dust which will be carried off with the gas. The temperature at which the molten metal should be kept to produce this desired result will vary, depending in thd first instance, on the kind of hydrocarbon oil used, and in the second instance, on the product desired. The melting'point of lead is approximately at 617 degrees F. For

example, I have made a high grade permanent gas from kerosene by passing the kerosene through molten lead at a temperature vof approximately 900 to 1200 degrees .F.,

' although this temperature may vary somewhat, 'and have made such gas from gas oil by passing the same through molten lead to a temperature varying from 1000 to 1400 de rees F.

he apparatus which I referably employ is constructed substantial y as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

'nace.

formed integrally with the head 9 is a metal Specification of Letters Patent. P tented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed October 11, 1918, I l

Serial No. 124,964.

Referring to the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the complete apparatus designed for making permanent gas from hydrocarbon oils;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the retort and immediately associated devices;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the distributing so-called spreader rings used in the retort;

Fig. 4; is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3; t

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing one of the dust collecting screens used in the dust collecting tank of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a View corresponding to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification of the apparatus adapted for making the lighter hydrocarbon liquids from heavier hydrocarbon liquids.

First describing the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 7 indicates a furnace into which depends an airtight metal retort 8, preferably of tubular form, having a flanged u per end and a head 9 detachably secure thereto. This retort 8 contains molten metal, such as lead, indicated at 3 that is adapted to'be kept in molten COIldl'tlOII by the heat from the fur- Rigidly secured to and, as shown,

tube 10 that is closed at its lower end and is ofmuch less diameter than the retort 8,

so as to afford the intervening annular space for the molten metal y. Spaced from the tube 10 is a smaller tube 11 and spaced from the said tube 11 is a still smaller tube 12. An air jacket is formed between the tubes 10 and 11 and this air jacket is open at its upper end. A water jacket is formed between the tubes 11 and 12, and this water jacket is closed, both at its upper and lower extremities. The hot water runs out of the upper end of this water jacket through a pipe 13, and the relatively cold water returns to the bottom thereof, through a pipe 14. Extended axially through the inner tube 12 but spaced from the walls thereof, is a needle valve 15, the lower end ofwhich is arranged to open and close a small port 16 in the extreme lower end of the said tube the reduced upper end of the needle valve 15 works with agas-tight joint. Located in the molten metal y and anchored to the retort 8 and outer tube 10 is a multiplicity of superimposed perforated so -called spreader rings 17, which serve to cause the as, in passing upward, to be spread and istributed throughout the molten metal. The numeral 18 indicates a multiplicity of metal balls of less specific gravity than the metaly and which float upon the upper sur- 10 livered to. the upper portion of said tank port 16, a thermally-actuated valve through an air supply pipe 20. This oil is delivered from the bottom of the tank under the air pressure, through an oil delivery pipe 21 that leads to the upper portion of the tube 12.

For automatically opening and closing the troller is provided in the valve 15. This controller, as shown, comprises a brass tube 22 secured at its upper end tothe head 9 of the retortand having a closed lower end. An iron or steel rod 23 rests at its lower end on the closed lower end of the tube 22 and extends upward therefrom and is connected to a small lever 24 that is intermediately pivoted to abracket 25 as shown, on the upper end of the tube 12. At its oiiter end, this lever 24 has a weight 26, and at its inner end, it is connected to the upper end of the valve 15, as shown, by a slot and pin connection 27.; A light coiled spring 28 is interposed between the attached end of the lever 24 and a collar 29 on the said valve. The weight 26 tends to keep the valve 15 upward and open the port 16, but when the metal y is cool, or cooled, the brass tube 22 will contract, and, acting on the said lever 24 will lift the weight 26 and cause the valve 15 to close the ort 16. Under this closing action, the sprlng 28 will yield when the port 16 is closed and prevent buckling of the rod 23 or other parts, upon further contraction. Under increasing temperatures, the tube '22 will expand much more rapidly than the rod 23 with a result that the weight amount of oilwhich may be cracked or 26 will remove the valve 15 upward and open the port 16 proportionate to the increasing temperature. Hence, there will be permitted a flow of oil to the retort that is proportionedto or depending on the temperature of the molten material therein, and this is an action highly desired, because it will, of course, be understood that the higher the temperature, the greater will be the broken up thereby, and furthermore, this increasing flow of oil will tend to keep down the increasing temperature of the molten metal. Of course, within certain limits, the

con

memes regulation of the temperature will be made by control of the furnace, and this is also accomplished automatically by the use of the thermo-regulator already described. For example, in the smoke pipe 7 of the furnace there is a check damper 7*, and this damper is connected to one end of a cable or cord 30 that is passed over a fixed guide sheave 31 and then brought down and'attached to the extended end of the weighted lever24. @bviously, with this arrangement, under increasing temperatures, the check damper 7 b will be operated, thereby checking the fire. The rod 23 is preferably provided with a turn buckle 23 by means of which the valve 15 may be properly adjusted..

The gas formed in the retort is carried from the upper portion thereof through a pipe 32, which, an the preferred arrange- I ment of the apparatus, leads to a closed car- I supported at the lower end ofa water supply of a small water pipe 36, the flow of water through which is regulated by a valve 37. By the proper regulation of the water, the

screen 34 is kept moist so it will catch and hold the carbon dust and other solid residue carried by the gas.

From the dust collector 33, the gas is preferably carried to a washing tank 38,

through a pipe 39 that terminates below the level of water y contained in said tank.

The washed gas passes out through a filter 40 in a pipe 41 by which it is carried to the upper portion of an expansible gasometer 4243. From the gasometer, the gas is carried through a service pipe 44 shown asequipped witha valve 45. The movable bell 43 of this gasometer is used as an automatic regulator for opening and closing a cut-oif valve 46 in the oil supply pi e 21. This valve 46 may be of the usual gate type mounted for vertical movement, normally. closed by a weight 47 applied to its upwardly projecting stem. The weight 47 is connected to one end of a cable 48 passed over an overhead guide sheave 49 and extended down and attached to the top of the movable member 43 of the gasometer.

Whenever the supply of gas in the gasometer falls below a certain point, the weight of the bell 43, acting through the cable 48, will open the valve 46 and turn onthe supply of oil, and when a certain amount gas has accumulated in the gasometer, the weight 47 will be permitted to close said valve 46 and out ofi the supply of oil.

The water jacket, or combined. water jacket and air pipe around the oil intake its - tube keeps the'oil at a temperature below its crackingpoint until it is actually brought into contact with the molten metal. This is very important, because it prevents the formation and collection of pasty or hard carcon residue on the interior of the oil intake tube. Otherwise stated, it delays the cracking ofoil and resulting formation of gas and carbon until the oil is subject to t hot molten metal. The term molten metal fore include, for example, mercury heated to a temperature sufiicient to crack the hydrocarbon liquid or other-gas producing he apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6, as indicated, is especially designed for making of the, lighter or more volatile hydrocarbon liquids from the heavier hydrocarbon oils. It may be the same apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, with the carbon collecting receptacle 33 and washing tank 38 omitted and with condensers A and B, respectively substituted for the said devices 33 and 38-. The condenser A involves a manifold condensing pipe 50 connected to the pipe 32 and at its lower portion, having a depending discharge port 51that opens into a condensate tank 52. The manifold 50 delivers to the upper portion of a manifold 53 of the second condenser B. The lower portion of this manifold 53 is contained in a water tank 54 which has circulating connections 55 for supplying cold water to increase the condensation. The lower extremity of the manifold 53 delivers into a second condensate tank 56, the upper portion of which may be connected to the pi e 41 that leads to the gasometer 42-43.. ith this apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6, the gas (gen: erated in the retort will be condense 1n passing through the" manifold or cooling pipes 50 and 53 and precipitates of different specific gravity wlll be accumulated in the tanks 52 and 56.' For example, a distillate of about the specific gravity of kerosene may be precipitated in the tank 52 and a distillate ofabout the specific-gravity of asolene may be precipitated in the tank 56. gas which passes from the tank 56 will be delivered into the gasometer42-43 and the cially sold on the market designed to give the necessary pressure in the retort requlred undervarying temperatures ofthe molten .tort from time to time. the carbon deposits from the walls of the .retort maintains a maximum thermal efliproduce the kind of product deand '38, may be connected to the retort indepengently thereof and used only when desire For the production of various different gases, or for the distillation of hydrocarbons of different specific gravity, or both, different molten metals may be employed in the retort. ployed in most instances. However, aluminum, which has a fusing point of a little less than 1200 degrees F., may be used for the producfieiaof a. as requiring that high temperature. For al gases, the carbon from the cracked oil will have a dry powder form and will not stick or adhere to the walls of the retort or of the conduits, but

will be mostly carried by the gas until pre- Lead will probably be an cipitated therefrom, in the proper receptacle. Even if there should in time be an accumulation (ff this dry carbon dust within the retort it will not form a scale and may be easily removed b opening the rehe elimination of ciency and prolongs the life of the retort.

What I claim is: Y 1. An apparatus for producing gas from gas producing liquids, comprising a closed, heated retort 'containingmolten metal, a cool medium jacketed oil delivery tube leading down through said molten metal to a point near the bottom of said retort, a valve for controlling the discharge of oil from said oil delivery tube into said molten metal, and a thermally-actuated controller for said valve, whereby the oil will be variably supplied under varying temperature of the said molten metal.

2. An apparatus for producing gas from gas producing liquids, comprising a closed heated retort containing molten metal, an oil delive tube leading downward through said molten metal to a point near the bottom ofsaid retort, awater jacket surrounding said tube, an air acket surrounding said water jacket, the said oil delivery tube having a discharge port at. its extreme lower end, and

a valve for opening and closing said port.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 7 two witnesses.

HENRY J. KOTSCHEVAR.

Witnesses:-

Hana: D. Kmconn, 

